Did You Know? Housing Instability Disrupts the Ability for Children to Learn

A study by Children's HealthWatch found that children whose families had moved two or more times in the past year were 59% more likely to have been hospitalized than were children in housing-secure families. Furthermore, families who were behind on their rent were more likely to struggle to feed all members of the households adequately, to have had utilities shut off, and to forgo needed health care for a child. Children from these families were 52% more likely to be at risk for developmental delays.

CHW's brief outlines policy approaches that would ensure that children (particularly infants and toddlers who are vulnerable to hardship) are living in stable, safe housing situations. Specifically, they advocate for investment in long-term solutions to provide affordable housing to lower-income families, while in the shorter term supporting emergency shelter systems with adequate funding streams.

Children’s HealthWatch is a network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts who conduct research to better understand the social and economic factors that impact children’s health.

During our 2017-18 program year, supporters like you enabled NeedLink Nashville to help over 2,870 Nashville children stay in their homes.

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